By Newspot Nigeria Africa Desk
In yet another grim episode of violence gripping the Sahel region, five Malian soldiers have been confirmed dead and nearly ten others wounded following a brazen jihadist attack on a military post in the village of Mahou, located in southeastern Mali’s Sikasso region, local officials and defense sources reported Thursday.
The early morning assault, described by eyewitnesses as terrifying, involved over 50 heavily armed insurgents riding on dozens of motorcycles. The coordinated strike adds to a growing list of recent attacks against military installations across the country.
“It was terrifying to see such a large number of attackers. They were on dozens of motorcycles,” a resident recounted to AFP, echoing the chaos and fear that swept through the village during the siege.
Security officials say ground and aerial reinforcements were rapidly deployed and succeeded in repelling the attackers and regaining control of the outpost. Despite the intervention, a military vehicle was torched during the clash.
Although Mali’s armed forces headquarters has yet to officially acknowledge the Mahou incident, it released a broader statement Thursday condemning the recent “resurgence of cowardly and barbaric attacks” on both military and civilian targets.
“These acts are being committed by a coalition of armed terrorist groups of all persuasions with internal and external support,” the statement said.
The attack in Mahou follows closely behind a series of deadly engagements, including a coordinated raid on Timbuktu’s army base and airport, where dozens of jihadists were reportedly “neutralised.” A day prior, an assault on the Boulkessi base near the Burkina Faso border left over 30 Malian soldiers dead, marking one of the deadliest single-day attacks in recent years.
Mali has been embroiled in armed conflict since 2012, battling Al-Qaeda and ISIS-linked groups, separatist insurgents, and organized criminal networks. Despite promises of restoring stability following military takeovers in recent years, jihadist violence continues to escalate, threatening not only Mali but neighboring West African nations as well.
Newspot Nigeria will continue to monitor developments in the Sahel as the situation unfolds.
